Motel evacuated for bomb threat; package investigated on A1A

People move through the parking lot while being evacuated from Stay America, a Bill France Boulevard motel, after a bomb threat Tuesday.

News-Journal / David Tucker

STAFF REPORT

Published: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 8:58 a.m.

Last Modified: Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at 4:41 p.m.

DAYTONA BEACH -- Police closed off Bill France Boulevard and evacuated a motel next to the Volusia Mall after a bomb threat Tuesday morning.

The threat is the fourth since the weekend. A guest found a note saying the motel would blow up at 9:30 a.m. A search began at 10:30 a.m. and the building was cleared later Tuesday morning.

The parking lot next to the JCPenney at the mall was also closed off as people staying at the Extended Stay America were evacuated.

Police Chief Mike Chitwood said the all clear on the motel was given about 11:30 a.m.

A handful of guests staying at the motel -- some of them still wearing their pajamas -- were in disbelief and somewhat annoyed about the bomb threat, saying they were rousted out of the building at 8:30 a.m.

“Whoever decided to do some crackheaded thing like make a bomb threat is crazy,” said guest Toni Marie Arduini. “I went downstairs to the lobby where they have muffins in the morning and a police officer told me I had to get out. I saw a cop on the first floor knocking on all the room doors.”

But that wasn't the end of it.

Minutes later in Daytona Beach Shores across the street from the Castaways Beach Resort, 2043 S. Atlantic Ave., someone deposited a suspicious package next to a Florida Power & Light transformer, said Sgt. Mike Fowler.

The sergeant said a portion of State Road A1A along the 2000 block has been closed while police await the arrival of the Volusia County Sheriff's Bomb Squad.

<p>DAYTONA BEACH -- Police closed off Bill France Boulevard and evacuated a motel next to the Volusia Mall after a bomb threat Tuesday morning. </p><p> The threat is the fourth since the weekend. A guest found a note saying the motel would blow up at 9:30 a.m. A search began at 10:30 a.m. and the building was cleared later Tuesday morning. </p><p> The parking lot next to the JCPenney at the mall was also closed off as people staying at the Extended Stay America were evacuated. </p><p> Police Chief Mike Chitwood said the all clear on the motel was given about 11:30 a.m. </p><p> A handful of guests staying at the motel -- some of them still wearing their pajamas -- were in disbelief and somewhat annoyed about the bomb threat, saying they were rousted out of the building at 8:30 a.m. </p><p> “Whoever decided to do some crackheaded thing like make a bomb threat is crazy,” said guest Toni Marie Arduini. “I went downstairs to the lobby where they have muffins in the morning and a police officer told me I had to get out. I saw a cop on the first floor knocking on all the room doors.” </p><p> But that wasn't the end of it. </p><p> Minutes later in Daytona Beach Shores across the street from the Castaways Beach Resort, 2043 S. Atlantic Ave., someone deposited a suspicious package next to a Florida Power & Light transformer, said Sgt. Mike Fowler. </p><p> The sergeant said a portion of State Road A1A along the 2000 block has been closed while police await the arrival of the Volusia County Sheriff's Bomb Squad.</p>